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@dainichi: From the examples I've given, it seems like it's optional to use. Though grammatically correct, it can be left out. I'm not sure if that is really the case. That's why I'm asking.
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dotnetN00bNov 8 '12 at 7:46

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One of the most useful questions I've seen on this site, and it has a vote for not constructive??
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AtaraxiaNov 8 '12 at 13:48

3 Answers
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Yes, absolutely! One year in Japan and during that time I heard them using these kinds of sentence all the time. So, yes, it is a common issue.

I will provide a broader view for your question. You are actually asking about the following pattern:

(Noun)のほう(...)

Whose meaning is the one of pointing out something whenever two options are considered.

When two options are involved

So, just start from the fact that ほう is put after a noun (using particle の) in order to say: This one is better. Or to indicate that the noun modified by ほう is the better choice.

When a question is giving you two options, generally it is necessary to express a preference. So the question can be:

1) (Noun-A)と(Noun-B)と、どちらが速いですか。 => Between (Noun-A) and (Noun-B), which one is fast?
2) (Noun-A)と(Noun-B)と、どちらのほうが速いですか。 => Between (Noun-A) and (Noun-B), which is the fastest?
3) (Group)で、どれが速いですか。 => In (Group), which is fast?
4) (Group)で、どれのほうが速いですか。 => In (Group), which is the fastest?

As you can see, there are always two options! In the first two Qs and As it is obvious, but also when a group is involved there are two options. Consider the following example:

あの学{が}校{っこう}の先{せん}生{せい}の中{なか}で、だれのほうが優{やさ}しいですか。 => Among the teachers in that school, who is the nicest one?

In this case there are many teachers, but you are asking to consider only one and the rest, this makes two options out of many more!

Remarks

Sentences 1 and 3 (both Q and A), you see that I did not use のほう. In such case you are not pointing out the best, the most appropriate, so you are just asking for the one that is fast, that's it. You are not stressing on the fact that you need, among all, the fastest! It is an important difference. In Q and A 1 and 3 you simply want a fast one, anyone can do! But in Q and A 2 and 4 you are asking for one particular, the fastest. It is a matter of stressing on your needs!

Understanding 一番 => Having more options

一{いち}番{ばん} is used, on the other hand, when more options are involved. This will let you understand when using のほう and when something else. So, as I said, many options. Consider the following questions:

1a) (Noun-A)と(Noun-B)と(Noun-C)と、どれが一{いち}番{ばん}いいですか。 => Among (Noun-A), (Noun-B) and (Noun-C), which one is the best?

The answer:

1a) (Noun-A)が、一{いち}番{ばん}いいです。 => (Noun-A) is the best!

As you can see, when you have many options, you use 一{いち}番{ばん}. But also in this case, you can use のほう. The previous example can be translated like this:

1a) (Noun-A)と(Noun-B)と(Noun-C)と、どれのほうがいいですか。 => Among (Noun-A), (Noun-B) and (Noun-C), which one is the best?

The answer:

1a) (Noun-A)のほうがいいです。 => (Noun-A) is the best!

So, which one to use?

The general rule is that when you have two options, you use のほう, while, when you have more options, you use 一{いち}番{ばん}.

However, in the context of many options being involved, if you wish to remark that one option in particular the most appropriate one, you can use のほう.

Be careful! You cannot use 一{いち}番{ばん} when two options are involved!

Final tip: when comparison is involved you have より. In these cases you use のほう.

We don't say 「(Group)で、どれのほうが速いですか。」, 「(Group)で、(Noun)のほうが速いです。」, 「あの学校の先生の中で、だれのほうが優しいですか。」, 「(Noun-A)と(Noun-B)と(Noun-C)の(orとでは)、どれのほうがいいですか。」. We don't use ほう when we have more than 3 choices. (←ごめん、さっき英語間違えてたw)
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user1016Nov 14 '12 at 11:34

@Chocolate: Ah, so when it is more than three? Uu, did not know about this, thank you for editing and letting me know. But the example with the three options.. is it correct? Three choices should be fine, I remember some Japanese friend of mine saying that sentence...
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AndryNov 14 '12 at 15:11

Yes it is used all the time. Perhaps the best tip is that if you don't want to directly express your preferance ("I want") or direct tell somebody that they are wrong or something else is better you can make a more gentle suggestion using this expression.